Month: November 2017

As you may know, I absolutely LOVE Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular that performed at the Hyperion Theater in Disney California Adventure. It was my ALL TIME FAVORITE show to watch and I was always in that theater. I felt like I was in actually in the movie and the Genie was PERFECTION he definitely stole the show hands down. He was everyone’s favorite with all his up to date jokes.

Aladdin on Broadway made me a little nervous because was it going to live up to my DCA’s version? Well, I had to find out and YES it was just as amazing but in its own way. I feel like the Genie still had a major part in the show (obviously) but in a different way than DCA’s. They were both completely different but similar in the same ways…if that makes sense.

For me, DCA’s version focused more on the comedic side of the movie, whereas the Broadway version focused more on the love story. Essentially the same storyline but told from different views. Genie was my favorite at DCA whereas I absolutely fell in love with Aladdin’s friends Babkak, Omar and Kassim. They, for me, were the most comedic for me. With a new show comes new music, and I immediately bought the soundtrack and still play all the time. My favorite songs that I listen to on replay non-stop is High Adventure and A Million Miles Away.

One thing I really miss was definitely the “animals” running around the audience, they did this for Prince Ali and A Whole New World in the DCA version and I loved it. I didn’t understand why they didn’t incorporate that in the Broadway version because they had animal puppets in the audiences for Lion King.

I know that they are two completely different shows and honestly they did an AMAZING job on both them. I would really love it if they came out on iTunes with a DCA version and Broadway version because I would buy it just like I bought Newsies!

Disney expanded its international reach with Tokyo Disneyland nearly 35 years ago, then in 2001 opening Tokyo DisneySea as a second theme park in Japan. There are reports that Disney and the Oriental Land are partners are investing $2.7 million in all new Japanese theme park that will shift focus on new characters and attractions.

The nee park plans sound similar to the ones used to create Disney California Adventure. So I’m excited to see if they will be using the old DCA plans or the upcoming plans. Also, all of the Japan Disney parks are owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company, but Disney has full creative control.

Plans for the upcoming park are set to be revealed May 2018, while construction plans are suggested to start in 2025. Although the new park is still years away are you excited to see the new park come to life? I know I’m excited to see what rides and shows they’ll have. Even though it’s years away, it should be exciting and interesting!

November 25, 1992, Aladdin took us on a magic carpet ride and showed us a whole new world. The story, if you haven’t heard goes like this: A poor street rat named Aladdin spends his time stealing food from the marketplace in the city of Agrabah. The adventure begins when he meets a girl who happens to be a princess running from her father trying to marry her to an acceptable suitor. Aladdin’s luck changes when he finds a magic lamp in the cave of wonders, but like any good story, there’s a twist when the Sultans sinister advisor Jafar has his own plans for both Aladdin and the lamp.

Scott Weinger (Aladdin), Robin Williams (Genie/Peddler), Lina Larkin (Princess Jasmine), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), Frank Welker (Abu?Cave of wonders/Raja), Gilbert Gottfried (Iago) and so much more magical actors and actresses who bring our favorite and loveable character to life along with the help of the directors Ron Clements and Jon Musker. Disney made two more movies about Aladdin, the sequel being Aladdin The Return of Jafar which came out May 20, 1994, and the third and final movie Aladdin and The King of Thieves came out August 13, 1996.

During the course of recording the voices, Robin Williams improvised so much they had almost sixteen hours of material. Because Robin Williams ad-libbed so many of his lines, the scripts were rejected for the best Adoption Screenplay Academy Award nomination. Originally, Jafar was more hot-tempered, while Iago was a cool haughty British-type. The filmmakers felt having Jafar losing his temper too much made him less menacing so the personalities of the two characters were switched. The film became the 14th (and the first animated) movie to gross more than 200 million dollars. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken originally conceived the opening song “Arabian Nights” to be recurrent throughout the film, acting as narration. The idea was dropped when the visual and storytelling proved strong enough in their own right.

On Jan 17, 2003, Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular became a Broadway-style show that was performed at the Hyperion Theatre in Dinsey California Adventure which sadly ended 13 years later on Jan 10, 2016. It ran approximately 45 minutes seating 2,011, guests. There were 250 costume changes per show, 48 custom scenery change, and about 36 cast members. This was my all-time favorite show because it was truly a spectacular Broadway show that brought extra magic to the park.

Jonathan Freeman, who voiced Jafar, ended up playing the live-action version in the Broadway musical. Aladdin premiered at the 5th avenue theater in Seattle in 2011. In 2012 after several regional and international productions. The musical was given a Toronto tryout in 2013 it opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam theater on March 20, 2014. There are 337 costumes in the show, over two million Swarovski crystals were used in the costuming. One pair of gold trousers used in “A Friend Like Me” uses 1,428 crystals alone.The cave of wonders where Aladdin first meets the Genie was built for the stage using the same golden material that was used for C-3PO in the Star Wars films. ‘Friend Like Me’ in the 1992 film was two minutes, but on the stage production, it became an eight-minute extravaganza. It takes 75 people to deliver each performance of Aladdin on tour.

Happy Birthday, Aladdin thank you so much for the adventure of love and laughter you bring to me everytime I watch your movie, show or listen to your soundtrack. Whatever way I watch or listen I always feel like I’m on a magic carpet ride.

Thanksgiving day is a day of family, a day of giving and to be thankful. At least that is what I believe when I think of Thanksgiving. Of course, there are benefits like food, but my memories of Thanksgiving is all about my family and all of us gathered in one place with our tradition of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade while cooking to food and putting the last minute touches on the house. Today I am thankful for all the opportunities that are presented in my life. I’m thankful I have the opportunity to give back to those who need it even the little furry friends who need some extra love on the street. Thank you for joining this year 7 Days of thanks!

Another fur favorite is the Pumpkin Sweet Potatoe bites! So here is how you make them!

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 C flour

1 C mashed sweet potato

1/2 C pure pumpkin puree

1/2 C water

1 Egg

2 tablespoon

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350º and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

In a large bowl mix flour, sweet potato, pumpkin, water, egg, and honey until thoroughly combined.

Pinch off a small amount of the mixture and roll it into little balls. then place them on the baking sheet about an inch apart.

Take a fork and flatten. Place them in the oven for 20 minutes.

Flip them over and place them back in the oven for another 10 minutes.

Let them cool and serve!

These delicious treats can be stored in the fridge for a week and in the freezer for a month, but trust me these things go so fast! We hope you like them just as much as my littles do. Today, I am thankful for the opportunity to go to college. Yes like my job it can get annoying and I want to quit, but it allows me to grow as a person and opens a lot more doors.

Cranberry BBQ meatballs are my all time favorite because they are sweet and tangy and easy to pop in your mouth. They go so fast in my household that I couldn’t help but share, so here is how you make my favorite Cranberry BBQ meatballs.

INGREDIENTS:

Meatballs

14 oz can cranberry sauce

3/4 C brown sugar

1 C water

1 C BBQ sauce

12 oz cocktail sauce

Finely chopped onions for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

Spray the bottom of the slow cooker lightly with cooking spray and add the meatballs.

In a large bowl combine cranberry sauce, brown sugar, water, cocktail sauce, BBQ sauce. Once combined pour over the meatballs.

Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

Sprinkle the finely chopped green onions if desired and serve!

Sometimes I put toothpicks because I like to grab and go. One thing I am grateful for is being brought up in the family that I did. I am lucky to have two strong women in my family: my mom and my grandma. I’ve learned so much from them, how to cook, bake, be independent and live my life. I have two incredible women I can call up and talk for hours about anything and everything.

My pups are my life, so no matter what holiday there is always holiday puppy treats around the house as well. Here are foods your pups can and can’t have at Thanksgiving!

Can Eat:

Turkey

Pure pumpkin

Plain yams

Sweet potatoes

Plain Carrots

Plain green beans

Plain potatoes

Plain cranberries

CAN’T Eat:

Alcohol

Cooked bones

Turkey skin

Nuts

Grapes or Raisins

Onions or Garlic

Chocolate

Scallions or Chives

Now you can share your feast and still keep your pup safe. What I am thankful for are my pups. I am very honored to have them in my life and to afford them. Every time I come home, they are there so excited to see me and their tails are wagging. It’s the best feeling you could ever experience.

Today, I will be making some Chocolate Acorns; they are very easy to make…so let’s get cooking!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

1/2 C chocolate chips

Mini chocolate chips

Milk chocolate hersheys kisses

Mini nilla wafer’s

INSTRUCTIONS:

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

Melt 1/2 C of chocolate chips. Once melted transfer into a zip lock bag cutting a corner making a tiny hole.

Pipe a small amount of chocolate on the flat side of the wafer and sticking the flat side of the kiss to the cookie

Set them on the lined sheet and once filled place the sheet in the freezer for about 5 minutes to set.

After the five minutes pipe a small amount on the top of the wafer adding a mini chocolate chip.

Place in the freezer for another five minutes and then serve!

These go so fast during Thanksgiving; luckily they are so easy to make. One thing I am thankful for is my job. Although it may drive me insane sometimes, it allows me to put food on the table, go on trips, spoil my family and dogs and put me through college.